A cost analysis attached to the regulations suggests that municipalities, provinces and First Nations bands pay for the improvements, with no money from the federal government.

It's estimated the upgrades would cost an average of about $13.5 million annually over a 20-year period.

But Transport Canada says the benefits — including the prevention of fatalities, injuries and damage to railway systems, cars and property — would far outweigh the costs.

The number of accidents at railway crossings has dropped over the past couple of decades, says the department, but fatalities during collisions have recently been on the rise.

"Although grade crossing accidents have generally fallen over the past 25 years, there has been a marked increase in fatalities at grade crossings since 2009," the department said in its regulatory impact analysis statement.

And many of the current regulations are voluntary and are not consistent across the country, it added.

"Inadequate implementation of voluntary standards and a lack of information sharing between road authorities and railway companies have put the safety of Canadians at risk."

The proposed regulations will be open for public comment for 90 days before being enacted.

After that, any new railways crossing that are built will have to comply with the new safety standards.

However, municipalities and railway companies would be given five years to upgrade crossings that are currently in use.